Modular pitching mound with replaceable trays

Active Publication Date: 2016-10-27
ATHALONZ
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a modular game pitching mound that can be easily moved and maintained. The mound is made up of multiple pieces that can be covered with artificial turf. The size, shape, and rigidity of the mound can vary, causing the pitcher to adjust their pitching mechanics. The lip on the front edge of the mound can also affect the pitching motion. The invention aims to address these issues by providing a more consistent and reliable mound that improves the pitcher's ability to adjust to varying conditions and reduce the risk of injury.

Problems solved by technology

In addition to varying implementations of a mound, during a game, the mound experiences degradation.
For instance, the area immediately adjacent to the pitching rubber (where the pitcher drives) wears down creating holes.
In addition, where the pitcher lands on the slope area creates holes.
Further, if the mound is not properly maintained, the holes expand in size and depth over a series of multiple games.
Continual adjustment of pitching mechanics increases the pitcher's risk of injury and degrades the pitcher's ability to be consistent.
Some portable mounds are not of the proper dimensions for the level section and / or the sloped section of the mounds, others are not rigid structures such that they “give” when the pitcher is pitching; and almost all have a lip on the front edge.

Method used

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  • Modular pitching mound with replaceable trays
  • Modular pitching mound with replaceable trays
  • Modular pitching mound with replaceable trays

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0054]FIG. 1 is a top view diagram of an embodiment of a pitching mound 10 that includes a level area 12, a sloped area 14, a surrounding area 16, a pitching rubber 18, a replaceable drive area 20, and a replaceable landing area 22. The pitching mound 10 is positioned on a baseball field and has dimensions per baseball rules. For example, the major league baseball (MLB) rules provide that the pitching mound has a diameter of 18 feet. In addition, the rules prescribe that the mound 10 has a level area 12 (e.g., 34 inches in length by 60 inches in width) and a sloped area 14 (e.g., 6 feet long, 60 inches wide, and a slope of 1 inch per 1 foot). The surrounding areas have no specific rules as to their slope.

[0055]The level area 12 includes a pitching rubber 18 and a replaceable drive area 20. The replaceable drive area 20 may reside in front of the pitching rubber 18 or it may include the pitching rubber 18. In general, the replaceable drive area 20 includes a replaceable drive tray an...

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Abstract

A modular pitching mound includes a removable drive area, a removable landing area, a modular level and sloped section, and a modular mound skirt section. The removable drive area includes an area for a pitching rubber. The modular level and sloped section that, when assembled, supports the removable drive area in a first position and at least encircles the removable landing area. The removable drive area and / or the modular level and sloped section includes a removable mechanism for assisting with removal of the removable drive area from the modular level and sloped section. The modular mound skirt section couples to and encircles the modular level and sloped section.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS[0001]The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 14 / 506,299, entitled “REPLACEABLE SECTIONS OF A PITCHING MOUND AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF,” filed Oct. 3, 2014, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,381,419 on Jul. 5, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13 / 593,360, entitled “REPLACEABLE SECTIONS OF A PITCHING MOUND AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF,” filed Aug. 23, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,882,615, issued on Nov. 11, 2014, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]NOT APPLICABLEINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0003]NOT APPLICABLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0005]This invention relates ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A63B71/02
CPCA63B71/02A63B69/0002A63B2069/0006A63B2102/18A63B2102/182A63B2210/50A63B71/00
InventorMARKISON, TIMOTHY W.
OwnerATHALONZ